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License-plate readers · Anoka

Anoka

Using license-plate readers · 9 agencies documented

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Anoka County Sheriff's Office

Status
Using license-plate readers
Vendors
Flock Safety, Axon
Contract
Flock Safety: $174,500 one-year pilot · from June 30, 2026 · approved by Sheriff (below County Board approval threshold) · One-year Flock pilot signed by the sheriff for $174,500, just under the amount that needs County Board approval. The Star Tribune reported 73 more readers next year; Sahan Journal reported the contract covers 75 readers and 10 drones. (Minnesota Star Tribune (via GovTech), Oct. 26, 2026; Sahan Journal, Aug. 18, 2026)
  1. Oct. 30, 2023 Fixed Flock readers went into use, per the audit. (Lynn Lembcke Consulting (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), Sept. 11, 2025)
  2. June 6, 2024 Axon squad readers went into use, per the audit. (Lynn Lembcke Consulting (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), Sept. 11, 2025)
  3. Sept. 11, 2025 Independent audit report on the program, covering Oct. 30, 2023 to June 15, 2025. (Lynn Lembcke Consulting (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), Sept. 11, 2025)
  4. June 30, 2026 The sheriff signed a one-year Flock pilot contract for $174,500, just under the amount that needs a County Board vote. (Sahan Journal, Aug. 18, 2026; Minnesota Star Tribune (via GovTech), Oct. 26, 2026)
  5. Oct. 2026 The Star Tribune reported the pilot would add 73 readers next year and that cities may opt out; the Nowthen council voted to keep Flock out and asked that the one county camera in town be taken down. (Minnesota Star Tribune (via GovTech), Oct. 26, 2026)
Conflicts and open questions
  • The Nowthen vote is dated by month from the Oct. 26, 2026 Star Tribune story ('earlier this month').
  • The sheriff's office told the Star Tribune that one of its cameras, at Viking Boulevard and Baugh Street in Nowthen, had been vandalized (GovTech reprint, Aug. 4, 2026); KSTP also reported vandalism in Anoka County. Date of the damage not reported.

From agency records.

Anoka Police Department

Status
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Vendors
Flock Safety, Axon
Cameras
5
Permanent Flock locations at the 2025 audit (plus Axon squad readers, not counted)
  1. Jan. 1, 2024 Flock program started, per the audit. (Lynn Lembcke Consulting (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), July 29, 2025)
  2. May 1, 2024 Axon squad readers started, per the audit. (Lynn Lembcke Consulting (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), July 29, 2025)
  3. July 29, 2025 Independent audit report covering Jan. 1, 2024 to May 15, 2025. (Lynn Lembcke Consulting (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), July 29, 2025)
  4. Oct. 30, 2026 Listed on the BCA's public list of agencies that told the state they use license plate readers (date we opened the page; the list shows no update date). (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown)
Conflicts and open questions
  • The latest record (a July 29, 2025 audit) is about 15 months old; the department is still on the BCA list.

From agency records.

Blaine Police Department

Status
Using license-plate readers
Vendors
Flock Safety, Axon
  1. April 2024 Flock fixed and movable readers went into use, per the audit (month only). (Lynn Lembcke Consulting (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), Nov. 3, 2025)
  2. May 2024 Axon squad readers went into use, per the audit (month only). (Lynn Lembcke Consulting (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), Nov. 3, 2025)
  3. Nov. 3, 2025 Independent audit report covering April 9, 2024 to Sept. 15, 2025. (Lynn Lembcke Consulting (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), Nov. 3, 2025)
  4. Oct. 30, 2026 Listed on the BCA's public list of agencies that told the state they use license plate readers (date we opened the page; the list shows no update date). (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown)

From agency records.

Columbia Heights Police Department

Status
Ended or removed
Vendors
Flock Safety
Cameras
12
Flock cameras at the time of the June 2026 vote
  1. June 8, 2026 The City Council voted to end the Flock contract and pay what remained on it; the 12 cameras were covered. (CBS Minnesota (WCCO), June 8, 2026; FOX 9, Sept. 30, 2026)
Conflicts and open questions
  • FOX 9 says staff were told to disconnect and remove the cameras; removal itself not confirmed. Still on the BCA list when opened.

Reported by news outlets; agency records not yet obtained.

Coon Rapids Police Department

Status
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Vendors
Vendor not named in source
  1. July 23, 2025 Biennial audit found the department compliant; retention set to 30 days. (Local Government Information Systems (LOGIS) (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), July 23, 2025)
  2. Oct. 30, 2026 Listed on the BCA's public list of agencies that told the state they use license plate readers (date we opened the page; the list shows no update date). (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown)
Conflicts and open questions
  • The latest audit (July 23, 2025) is about 15 months old and does not name the vendor.

From agency records.

Fridley Police Department

Status
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Vendors
Flock Safety
  1. July 2026 MPR News, Sahan Journal and the Star Tribune reported that a July 2026 Star Tribune investigation found most of the immigration-related searches it identified in Twin Cities Flock data were run on Fridley's cameras. MPR and the Star Tribune said Fridley then restricted access to its data. Exact publication date of the investigation not confirmed. (MPR News, Aug. 17, 2026; Sahan Journal, Aug. 18, 2026; Government Technology (TNS / Minnesota Star Tribune), Aug. 4, 2026)
  2. Sept. 30, 2026 FOX 9 reported Fridley disabled immigration-related searches in January 2026 and cut out-of-state access in February, limiting access to Minnesota agencies, and listed it among places that cancelled or paused Flock contracts. (FOX 9, Sept. 30, 2026; FOX 9, Aug. 14, 2026)
  3. Oct. 30, 2026 Listed on the BCA's public list of agencies that told the state they use license plate readers (date we opened the page; the list shows no update date). (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown)
Conflicts and open questions
  • Whether Fridley ended, paused or only restricted its Flock use is unclear; see unresolved.

Reported by news outlets; agency records not yet obtained.

Ramsey Police Department

Status
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Vendors
Vendor not named in source
  1. Oct. 30, 2026 Listed on the BCA's public list of agencies that told the state they use license plate readers (date we opened the page; the list shows no update date). (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown)
Conflicts and open questions
  • Only source found in this round is the BCA list; no vendor, camera count or recent-use record located, so status is unconfirmed.

From agency records.

Spring Lake Park Police Department

Status
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Vendors
Vendor not named in source
  1. Oct. 30, 2026 Listed on the BCA's public list of agencies that told the state they use license plate readers (date we opened the page; the list shows no update date). (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown)
Conflicts and open questions
  • Only source found in this round is the BCA list; no vendor, camera count or recent-use record located, so status is unconfirmed.

From agency records.

St. Francis Police Department

Status
Using license-plate readers
Vendors
Axon
  1. July 3, 2025 Axon squad readers went into use; no fixed readers. (Lynn Lembcke Consulting (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), Jan. 29, 2026)
  2. Jan. 29, 2026 Independent audit report. (Lynn Lembcke Consulting (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), Jan. 29, 2026)
  3. Oct. 30, 2026 Listed on the BCA's public list of agencies that told the state they use license plate readers (date we opened the page; the list shows no update date). (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown)

From agency records.

Statewide

  1. 2015 Minn. Stat. § 13.824 enacted (2015 c 67, s 3); later amended in 2021 (1st Spec. Sess.) and 2024 (c 127). It limits what ALPRs may collect, requires destruction of non-investigative data within 60 days, limits sharing to qualifying law-enforcement agencies, requires a public log of use and list of fixed locations, requires a biennial independent audit filed with the Legislative Commission on Data Practices and others within 30 days, requires written authorization and an active-investigation basis for access, and bars tracking an investigative subject without a warrant or exigent circumstances. (Enactment year only; month not checked.) (Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, date not shown)
  2. 2015 Subdivision 8 requires agencies to notify the BCA within 10 days of installing or using an ALPR (including fixed locations); the BCA keeps a public list of agencies and reader locations unless a location is classified as security information. (Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, date not shown)
  3. Nov. 20, 2025 The Legislative Commission on Data Practices took public testimony on ALPR and body-camera reporting requirements. (Legislative Coordinating Commission, Nov. 20, 2025)
  4. Dec. 11, 2025 The commission's members discussed ALPR and body-camera reporting requirements and potential statutory updates. (Legislative Coordinating Commission, Dec. 11, 2025; Legislative Coordinating Commission, Dec. 11, 2025)
  5. March 12, 2026 HF 4205 (Tabke) introduced: it would tighten ALPR data restrictions, centralize ALPR data in the BCA, and regulate private-entity ALPR use; referred to House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law with no further action shown. (Minnesota Legislature / Revisor of Statutes, March 12, 2026)
  6. March 23, 2026 Senate companion SF 4739 (Verbeten) introduced and referred to Judiciary and Public Safety; no further action shown. Its text would amend § 13.824 and add related provisions elsewhere in state law. (Minnesota Legislature / Revisor of Statutes, March 23, 2026; Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, March 19, 2026)
  7. July 2026 A Star Tribune investigation published in July 2026 (exact date not confirmed) reported that law enforcement agencies inside and outside Minnesota searched plate-reader data from Twin Cities suburbs for civil immigration enforcement. Sahan Journal said the investigation found about 30 state, county and federal agencies ran such searches on cameras in at least eight suburbs between November 2025 and March 2026. MPR News reported hundreds of such searches, mostly on Fridley's cameras. The Minneapolis City Council bulletin said the investigation reported that federal immigration agencies such as ICE could access Flock data. In October 2026 the Star Tribune said the searches took place during Operation Metro Surge. (Sahan Journal, Aug. 18, 2026; MPR News, Aug. 17, 2026; City of Minneapolis, Oct. 1, 2026; Government Technology (TNS / Minnesota Star Tribune), Aug. 4, 2026; Government Technology (TNS / Minnesota Star Tribune), Oct. 26, 2026; FOX 9, Aug. 14, 2026)
  8. Oct. 30, 2026 The BCA public list, checked Oct. 30, 2026, names 117 agencies that reported using ALPR or devices with ALPR capability. The page shows no 'last updated' date. (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown)

State agencies

Minnesota State Patrol

Status
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Vendors
PIPS Technology
Cameras
6
ALPR systems on patrol vehicles at the 2024 audit.
Sources
Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown
  1. Feb. 27, 2024 Audit (Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2023) reported six active ALPR systems on patrol vehicles and no stationary units; it reviewed the PIPS Technology BOSS system. (Minnesota Legislative Reference Library (filed audit), Feb. 27, 2024)
Conflicts and open questions
  • Still on the BCA public list (no fixed locations) as of Oct. 30, 2026; no 2025-2026 audit located.

From agency records.